Kokcha News Agency: Ehud Olmert, who served as Israel’s Prime Minister from 2006 to 2009, has condemned Defense Minister Israel Katz’s plan to forcibly relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to a camp in Rafah, calling it a “concentration camp” and warning that it would amount to ethnic cleansing.
In an interview with The Guardian, Olmert expressed deep concern over the plan, which Katz has described as a “humanitarian city.” Olmert argued that forcing people to live in a camp would be a form of ethnic cleansing and would mark a dangerous escalation in Israel’s policies in Gaza.
Details of the Plan
Katz’s plan involves relocating Palestinians from Gaza to a camp in Rafah, where they would be required to stay unless they leave for another country. The Defense Minister has ordered the Israeli military to begin planning the construction of a camp that could initially house 600,000 people and eventually accommodate all Palestinians in Gaza.
Olmert warned that if Palestinians are forcibly relocated to this “humanitarian city,” it would be seen as part of an ethnic cleansing campaign. He emphasized that any attempt to create a camp for hundreds of thousands of people would inevitably be interpreted as such.
Criticism of Israel’s Actions
Olmert also criticized the Israeli government’s broader actions in Gaza and the West Bank, stating that Israel is already committing war crimes in these territories. He warned that the creation of a concentration camp would be a further escalation.
“This is a concentration camp. I’m sorry,” Olmert said, adding that the plan is not about protecting Palestinians but about expelling them. He argued that the Israeli government’s rhetoric and actions, including calls for ethnic cleansing and illegal settlement projects, make it clear that the “humanitarian city” is not intended to protect Palestinians but to remove them from Gaza.
War Crimes in the West Bank
Olmert also addressed the recent killings of Palestinians in the West Bank, including a U.S. citizen, by illegal Israeli settlers. He described these attacks as war crimes and criticized the Israeli government for failing to stop them.
“This is unforgivable. Unacceptable… These are ongoing operations organized and carried out in the most brutal and criminal way by a large group,” Olmert said, adding that such groups could not operate without the support and protection of Israeli officials.
Growing Criticism of Israel
Olmert acknowledged the growing criticism of Israel in the U.S., stating that it is not driven by antisemitism but by the actions of the Israeli government. He said that many people are reacting to what they see on television and social media, where Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank are widely reported.
“People are saying, ‘You’ve crossed every possible line,’” Olmert said, expressing his own shame and heartbreak over Israel’s transformation from a war of self-defense to one marked by war crimes and unprecedented levels of death and destruction.
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